Beckham Speaks!

After a week of dodging journalists' questions, England's David Beckham has finally confirmed that he is in loan talks with AC Milan but pledged himself to Los Angeles, saying he will be back for the next MLS season. He wrote to his own personal website...

After ducking journalists’ questions all week, Los Angeles Galaxy superstar David Beckham finally talked. In a way. On his personal website, davidbeckham.com, he posted a “Q&A” that confirmed his prospective loan to Italian side AC Milan and explained his motivations. He also pledged himself to continuing his career with the Galaxy.

“One of the reasons I want to train and play in Milan for a few months is the fact that MLS season doesn't run as long as the European season and my body is programmed to actually not have that amount of time off,” he said. “During the off season, I'm hoping to go to Milan to train and play with them.”

It is known that Beckham is desperate to be a part of the England squad at the 2010 World Cup. England manager Fabio Capello has told him that he must be in shape and in form during the winter, when there are big qualifiers, if he is to be on the team. Capello reportedly urged Beckham to join Milan, where Capello previously coached.

“AC Milan is one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he said. “I've a great chance to go there, keep fit and play with some of the best players in the world. They've got Kaka, Ronaldinho, Seedorf and also a player with one of the best records in football, in Maldini.”

Many observers, however, have conjectured that this move might become permanent, and that Beckham was using the loan as a first step to a complete transfer back to Europe. But the former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder rejected this.

“[Playing for Milan] also gives me a chance to keep my fitness up and also carry that on for when I come back to the Galaxy and for the MLS season,” he said. “I'm still very committed to being a Galaxy player. I came to the Galaxy to win trophies and I want to do that.”

He has a ways to go to get to that point. The Galaxy missed the playoffs this season for the third straight season, and the second straight since Beckham’s arrival in 2007.

“It's been slightly disappointing on the Galaxy side because we haven't made the playoffs again,” he said. “We haven't had much stability in the team. We now have Bruce Arena as manager, he knows the league, he knows the players. We have to push forward here now we are a big club, one of the biggest clubs in the MLS. Now it's important that we move on from here, forget the disappointment of the last two to three seasons and step up to the challenge.”

The interview made no mention about the length of the loan. According to new FIFA rules, Beckham supposedly cannot go on a short-term loan, but would have to move only during registration periods. This would mean he would miss the first two-to-three months of the MLS season.